Spray product package and method of packaging spray products



Unitd f s PatentO SPRAY PRODUCT PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING SPRAY PRODUCTS Arthur F. Strouse, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Strouse, Inc., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 10, 1957 Serial No. 701,706

4 Claims. (Cl. 141-3) No Drawing.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application, Serial No. 603,876, filed August 14, 1956.

This invention relates to the packaging of spray prodnets in suitable spraying containers under pressure, more particularly engine starting fuel of the type comprising ether, a lubricant such as colloidal graphite dispersion, and an anti-oxidant. I

In spraying the engine starting fuel, the mixture is maintained in a suitable spraying container under gas pressure. In ordinary methods of packaging, the mixture is merely loaded into metal containers, usually of a convenient size capacity, about twelve ounces, and a propellant gas added. The containers are usually provided with a suitable valve which when opened permits the contents to be ejected in a stream or spray. This ordinary packaging is such that after a certain amount of the contents has been ejected, the propellent gas pressure is lost to such extent that anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of the prodnot, such as the fuel mixture, remains in the can and is lost to the user.

The principal object of this invention is to so package a product that all or an but a negligible quantity of the product will be dispensed by the propellent gas originally loaded into the container.

Another important object of this invention is to provide for the packaging of an ether type engine starting fuel in lightweight metal containers, for spray dispensing from said containers, in such manner that the loaded containers can be safely transported at very high altitudes and whereby the fuel can be virtually entirely dispensed in a spray form, at extremely low temperatures, for example, as low as 90 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

My methods and processes permit the use of compressed gases, such as nitrous oxide, propane, carbon dioxide, and combinations of these, as the propellent gas. The mixing of these gases in combinations allows almost the full amount of product to be put in the container instead of taking up the available space with propellent. This is a considerable advantage over the use of liquified gases. It is possible with my invention to expel from the consumer container, products in outside temperatures as low as 90 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, and yet have these filled consumer containers stand heat tests up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, if the container is initially built to stand the pressures, without losing the expellent gas pressure or jeopardizing the function of the product, this comprising also an important storage safety factor.

I can, for example, package injection type diesel and gasoline engine starting fluid, by my methods, to great advantage.

Take a formula as follows: By weight- 95.2% refined ethyl ether 4.7% colloidal graphite dispersion (as a lubricant) 0.1% anti-oxidant 2,928,435 Patented Mar. 15, 1960 plosive peroxides.

Sorbitant mono-oleate may be used in amount of about 10 percent of the total compound, with a reduction of the ether content to the same extent, to keep the lubricant of the compound in suspension in the ether.

Packaging this engine starting fuel in suitable small metal containers, for example, twelve ounce capacity, to be dispensed by gas pressure similarly to the packaging and dispensing of other gas pressure dispensed spray or like container products, I can package inseveral ways, as following more particularly described.

In one of my methods, which permits a regular production line arrangement, I start with a supply of empty open top cans which are moved progressively in the steps where first the lubricant and anti-oxidant in the selected f proportions are loaded into the cans at room temperature,

ordinarily about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, next the desired quantity of refrigerated ether in liquid form at a temperature ranging preferably from zero to plus 20 degrees Fahrenheit is placed in the can, then a self closing valve is loosely placed in the open top of the container to loosely temperature of the product in the can, the force of the sudden injection of the gas into it causes the temperature of the product to rise.

that moment, an increase of the total pressure inside of the can. It also follows from this, that if the temperature of the product is low or is lowered, prior to the injection of thegas, the temperature of the combination in the can does not rise as high as it would otherwise. For this reason I prefer to refrigerate the product, for example,

the ether of the engine starting fuel, before placing it in the can. The package is ready for use anytime after it is loaded with the product and gassed. However, when the filled can is stored for a time after the can has been gassed, the temperature and pressure will both drop. found that due to my method of gassing the product, it remains constantly at a pressure sufficient to expel practically all of the contents of the can, no matter What the temperature may be at which the filled can is stored or used. I have observed that almost immediately after the gas is injected into the can, the gauge pressure reads from to pounds per square inch. In brief, despite the high injection pressure used in injecting the gas, the total pressure in the filled can afterwards drops. It is, therefore, evident to me that the product has absorbed or 5 The gas apparently enters into combination with the product and together they cause at I have t I can also package the product, with the same results,

by first mixing all the ingredients, refrigerating the mix ture, and feeding the mixture at a low temperature into the can, then following the several steps as outlined in the method just foregoing disclosed.

Refrigerating the mixture or the ether, before'iplacing it in the can is also a safety factor since thereby the ether can be freely. handled and very littlegor onlyfnegligible amounts thereof, will be lost by vaporization or dissipation into the surrounding atmosphere. This is in} addition to the benefits derived from keepingthe' temperature 7 down within desired limits at the time the gas is injected. 7 t The ether type engine startingfuel is" given as an ex-.

ample, however, other products can also be'successfully packaged by the same methods, with the same beneficial results, and in any event, with considerable savings tothe consumer who thereby gets more product for his money;

Tests have shown that the safety factor in my method is so great that engine starting fuel of the kind described,

packaged by my method has been approved for air trans portation by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

What I claim is: t-

1. A method of packaging an ether type engine starting fuel and a propellant gas in a light weight metal can, for spray dispensing of said ether type engine starting fuel from said can, said filled can being explosion proof at very high altitudes and at very high temperatures, "said material being dispensable virtually completely in spray, form from said container at temperatures as low as -90 F., comprising the steps of inserting into an empty open end'can a predeterminedvquantity of colloidal graphite dispersion and an anti-oxidant, where the percentage of colloidal graphite dispersion is approximately 4.7% of the ultimate content of said can, inserting in said can a quantity of refrigerated ether in liquid form at a ficiently' high pressure that said propellant gas appreciably increases the temperatureof the contents of said can, the

quantity of said gas injected into said can and the pressure of said gas as injected being such that the pressure of said gas internally of said can after termination of injection of said gas is materially smaller than the pressure at which saidgas in injected into said can via said valve. 7 ZQThecombinatioh according to claim 1 wherein the injection pressure of said gas is approximately 450. pounds per square inch. 7 j I 3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the injection pressure of said gas is approximately 450. pounds per square inch andthe final pressure of said gas in said can is approximately 85. pounds per square inch.

4. A method of packaging an ether type engine starting fuel and a propellant gas in a lightweight metal can for. spray dispensing of said etheritype engine starting i fuel from's aidlcan, said 'filled can being explosion-proof at very high altitudes and at very high temperatures, said material being dispensible virtually completely in spray form from said container at temperatures to as low as 90f R, comprising the steps of inserting into an empty open end can apredetermined quantity of ether type i a liquid firm, sufficient substantially to fill said can, seal- "fvalve substantially instantaneously an djat a sufficiently;

temperature between approximately 0 F. and 209E,

a measured quantity of said propellant gas through said self-closing valve substantially instantaneously and at sufengine starting fuel constituents including a lubricant of the kind, to avoid dry start of the engine, and ether in ingly afiixing a self closing valve on the openend of the can and adding a propellant gas in gaseous form to the I can through said self closing valve, wherein the step of adding said propellant gas is accomplished by injecting a measured quantity of said propellant gas through said high pressure so that said propellant gas appreciably increases the temperature of the contents of said can, the quantity of saidg'as injected into said can and the pressure of said gas during injection being such that the pressure of, 'said gas internally of said can after termination of injection of said gasis materially less than the pressure at which the gas is initially injected into said can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS r 2,726,027 -North et a1. Dec. 6, 1955 Pyenson Nov. 8, 1955 

